India, Feb. 26 -- Six sewage treatment plants in Patna not fully functional, direct discharge of effluents in Ganga

The water quality of 22 rivers in Bihar, including Ganga, is unfit even for bathing, according to Bihar State Pollution Control Board's (BSPCB) annual report (2023-24).

Meanwhile, on February 25, 2023, this reporter found groups of people taking holy dips in the Ganga Collectorate ghat in Patna. The people also filled up bottles with the water to carry home for use in prasad (holy offerings) and other rituals.

"Ganga water is pure and can't be polluted. We took holy dips and will carry home water too," Niranjan Kumar Singh and his wife Sobha Devi told this reporter at the ghat. On being told the water was unfit for bathin...